Fastening device for wagon end-gates and the like.



No. 889,688. PATBNTED JUNE 2, 1908.

J. HUFFMAN. FASTENING DEVICE FOR WAGON END GATES AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION CEILBD FHB,,26, 1907.

JOHN HUFFMAN, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

FASTENING DEVICE FOR WAGON END-GATES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed. February 25, 1907. Serial N 0. 359,231.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HUFFMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastening Devices forWagon End-Gates and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to certain improvements in end-gates, and moreparticularly to a fastening device therefor.

The object of the invention is to provide a fastening device forend-gates of wagons and the like, the arrangement of parts being such asto permit the end-gate being held in a locked position until it isdesired to remove the same.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a fastening device forend-gates w ich the jarrin of the wagon-box will not displace, and onewhich may be readily removed from the boxregardless of the contentsthereof wedging and pressing against it.

A further object of the invention is to provide an end gate fasteningdevice simple in construction and composed of but a minimum of parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an end-gate fasteningdevice whereby the rod needs never to be removed from the end-gate whichis frequently the cause of them becoming lost.

A still further object is to provide an inexpensive, durable, andefiicient fastening device which will be effective for the purposedesigned.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointedout in the claims herewith appended.

Referring to the drawings, wherein likecharacters of reference denotesimilar parts throughout the several views :Figure 1,. is a view inperspective showing my device is operative position. Fig. 2, isafragmentary view of one corner of the wagon-box clearly illustratingthe fixed head of the end-gate rod as in a locked position. Fig. 3, is adetail showing the handle-nut as it is carried on the threaded end ofthe end-gate rod. Fig. 4, is a detail showing the fixed head of theend-gate rod and the projection or lug carried thereby. Fig. 5, is anend view thereof. Fig. 6, is a face view of the slotted and countersunkside 11, thereof.

In the practical embodiment of my invention, I have shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings the rear end of a wagon A, the'sides thereof being rovidedwith the slots 1, and cleats 2.

B, designates a one piece end-gate provided at each end and upon itsrear side with the cleats 3, which are each provided with an opening 4,at a suitable point intermediate their ends through which the end-gaterod C, passes, which rod will now be described.

The rod C, is provided at one end with the fixed cone-shaped head 5,which is rovided with the projection or lug 6, as clear y shown in Fi s.2, 4 and 5. The opposite end of the rod is threaded as at 7, andreceives the cone-headed handle-nut 8, after which it is flattened as at9,-to prevent the handle-nut 8, from working off and becoming lost. Thecone-shaped head 5, and cone-headed handlenut 8, when in a lockedposition engage side plates 10,'which I will now describe.

The side-plates 10, it will be observed are each provided with the slot11, and the countersunk opening 12, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7.These plates are secured to the sides of the wagon-body A, as clearlyshown in Fig. 1, of the drawings, the slots 11, thereof registering withthe slots 1, of the wagonbody as is manifest.

The operation of my fastening device is as follows :The end-gate B,being in a locked position as disclosed in Fig. 1, the operator turnsthe cone-headed handle-nut 8, so as to disengage the same from thecountersunk seat 12, of the side-plate 10, thereby loosening the rodwhich allows the end-gate to be readily removed. When it is desired toreplace the end-gate B, on the wagon, the operator inserts the ends ofthe rod G, into the slots 1, of the sides of the Wagon-box A, then thecountersunk fixed head 5, having the lug or projection 6, is forced inengagement with the countersunk seat l2'of the side plate 10, with thelug 6, between the upper and lower surface of the slot 11 of the sideplate 10, as shown in Figs. 2, and in dotted lines in Fig. 6, therebypreventing the rod 0, from turning whenever the operator tightens orturns the handle-nut 8. Whenever the cone-head of the handle-nut istightly engaged with the countersunk seat 12, of the plate 10, itjwillbe readily seen that the sides of the wagonbody will be free fromspreading should the sides be subjected to a heavy'strain and theend-gate is also free from the up and down movement or jumping which iscaused by the wagon traveling over rough roads.

It is of course understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the useof any particular kind of material in constructing my improved lockingor fastening device, and it is also evident that various slight changesmight be made in the forms, constructions,

and arrangements of parts described without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. Hence I do not care to be confined to theexact construction herein set forth, but consider myself entitled to allsuch slight changes or variations that may fall within the spirit andscope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim 1. In combination with thesides of a Wagon body, plates having slots formed in their outer endssecured to said sides, said plates being formed with conical sha eddepressions on their outer faces, said s ots extending to the center ofsaid depressions, a rod having portions extendin in said slots, aconical shaped head integra with one end of the rod seating in one ofsaid depressions and having means extending in the slot of saiddepression to hold said head against rotation, and a nut having a handlesecured thereto and having a conical shaped head engaging in the otherconical shaped depression.

2. In combination with the sides of a wagon, plates'secured to saidsides having cone-shaped depressions in their outer faces andsubstantial y horizontal slots extending from the center of saiddepressions through the outer ends of the plates, a rod to be receivedin said slots, a cone-shaped head rigidly secured to one end of said rodand seating in one of said cone-shaped depressions, a projection carriedon the periphery of said cone-shaped head of a thickness to be receivedin the slot of said depression, said projection holding said headagainst rotary movement by engagement with the top and bottom wallsformed by said slot, and a nut having a cone-shaped head to seat in theother cone-shaped depression and a handle on the nut.

In testimony whereof, I, afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN HUFFMAN.

Witnesses:

ANNA BURRESS, FREDK J. LARSON.

